South Central Pennsylvania Criminal Defense Blog
Posted on Jan 16, 2012 By Attorney Shawn Curry
Certain circumstances arise in criminal cases where a warrant may be issued for a person's arrest. For example, if you miss a scheduled court appearance, a bench warrant may be issued for your ...
Continue reading ""I have a warrant for my arrest. What do I do?"" »
Posted on Jan 15, 2012 By Attorney Shawn Curry
Back in the day, when we would set out on a trip, we would get out a roadmap and plan our route to the final destination. Today, many of us rely upon the simplicity of a GPS to get us from Point A to ...
Continue reading "I've been charged with Driving Under the Influence (DUI) in Lewistown/Mifflin County, PA. Do I need an attorney?" »
Posted on Jan 13, 2012 By Attorney Shawn Curry
There are a lot of things they teach you in law school. What they don't teach you is how to be an attorney. They don't teach you how do deal with people. This comes from life experience. ...
Continue reading "Attorney-Client Relations & Communications: "Coach 'em up"" »
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 By Attorney Shawn Curry
Yes. And no. Pursuant to Pennsylvania Rule of Criminal Procedure Rule 600, generally , the prosecution must bring a defendant to trial within 365 days of the filing of the charges. However, excludable ...
Continue reading "Does the prosecuting district attorney in PA have to bring me to trial within 365 days?" »
Posted on Dec 8, 2011 By Attorney Shawn Curry
From the release of the initial grand jury presentment against former Penn State assistant football coach and Second Mile founder Jerry Sandusky, the prosecution has skewed public perception against ...
Continue reading "New Presentment Against Jerry Sandusky: A Lesson in Strategic Prosecution/Litigation" »
Posted on Dec 8, 2011 By Attorney Shawn Curry
You have the right to be represented by an attorney. When you retain a PA Criminal Defense Lawyer to represent you in response to a subpoena to testify before a grand jury, your attorney will be able ...
Continue reading ""I've been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury, what are my rights?"" »
Posted on Dec 7, 2011 By Attorney Shawn Curry
'Tis the Season for shopping. With Black Friday behind us, shopping for the holiday season is in high gear. While the occurrence of Retail Theft charges is not limited to the holiday season, there ...
Continue reading ""What are the consequences or penalties for Retail Theft?"" »
Posted on Nov 14, 2011 By Attorney Shawn Curry
In Pennsylvania, an Investigating Grand Jury is an investigative and prosecutorial tool that can be utilized by a county District Attorney or the Attorney General. Upon application, an investigative ...
Continue reading "FAQ Series: "How do Pennsylvania State Grand Jury Proceedings Work?"" »
Posted on Oct 27, 2011 By Attorney Shawn Curry
If you were sick and it was apparent that the illness was not just going away, would you go to a doctor? Sure. If you learned you had a brain tumor, would you seek treatment from your family doctor or ...
Continue reading "FAQ Series: "Do I need a criminal defense attorney for my Preliminary Hearing at Adams County Central Court in Gettysburg, PA?"" »
Posted on Oct 17, 2011 By Attorney Shawn Curry
Regardless of whether you are facing charges for murder or DUI , drug delivery or drug possession , theft or burglary, assault or a sex crime , bail must be set in all criminal cases . Whether you ...
Continue reading "FAQ Series: "I've been charged with crime, will the judge set bail?"" »
Posted on Oct 17, 2011 By Attorney Shawn Curry
If you are the subject of a police investigation, the steps you take to protect yourself today could have a long-term impact on the ultimate outcome of the investigation and the consequences you are ...
Continue reading "FAQ Series: "I'm under criminal investigation by the police, do I need an attorney?"" »
Posted on Oct 17, 2011 By Attorney Shawn Curry
As a PA Criminal Defense Attorney , I help people who have been accused of a wide variety of crimes in numerous jurisdictions . Whether a DUI , Assault , Theft , Drug , Homicide or Sex Crime in ...
Continue reading "The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Series" »
Posted on Oct 12, 2011 By Attorney Shawn Curry
I can vividly recall a conversation with my late mentor in which we were discussing jury-trial strategy. I can still hear him saying, "Shawn, when the facts are against you, argue the law. When ...
Continue reading "Pitfalls of Arguing the Emotion in a Jury Trial - The Reverse Casey Anthony Effect" »
Posted on Sep 25, 2011 By Attorney Shawn Curry
If you have ever watched a crime show or movie, you have probably observed a scene where a person is arrested and the cop says, "You have a right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will ...
Continue reading "Your Right to Remain Silent: Often Misunderstood" »
Posted on Sep 5, 2011 By Attorney Shawn Curry
Whether you have been charged with a DUI , drug possession/delivery , assault , theft , murder/manslaughter , or a sex crime , your first opportunity to defend your rights begins with the Preliminary ...
Continue reading "Preliminary Hearing before Mifflin County Magisterial District Judges in Lewistown or Reedsville, PA" »
Posted on Sep 2, 2011 By Attorney Shawn Curry
If you have been charged with a crime in York County, Pennsylvania , it is imperative that you seek an immediate consultation with an experienced York Criminal Defense Lawyer who understands the ...
Continue reading "York County Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) Program" »
Posted on Aug 25, 2011 By Attorney Shawn Curry
If you have been charged with a crime in Harrisburg , York , Gettysburg , or anywhere throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, you may have already asked yourself, "Do I need a PA Criminal ...
Continue reading "Do I Need a York & Adams County PA Criminal Defense Attorney ?" »
Posted on Aug 21, 2011 By Attorney Shawn Curry
I can vividly recall a conversation with my late-mentor in which we were discussing criminal jury trial strategy. I can still hear him saying to me, "Shawn, when the facts are against you, argue ...
Continue reading "The Reverse Casey Anthony Effect" »
Posted on Jul 23, 2011 By Attorney Shawn Curry
Life can be difficult. Our various responsibilities between work, family, and friends can pull us in many directions. Sometimes, the weight can become unbearable when we overextend ourselves. In ...
Continue reading "Criminal Charges Often Consequence of Underlying Drug & Alcohol or Mental Health Issue -- Take The First Step" »
Posted on Jul 12, 2011 By Attorney Shawn Curry
If you have been charged with Possession with Intent to Deliver or Drug Delivery , you may feel as though you have been virtually de-humanized, if not villainized, as you have been named as a ...
Continue reading "Possession with Intent to Deliver or Drug Delivery Charges in York and Adams County: The "Businessman" v. Drug Addict/Abuser Effect" »
Posted on Jun 28, 2011 By Attorney Shawn Curry
Normally, when the general public associates drug and alcohol issues with crime, they often associate these types of issues with criminal charges such as Driving Under the Influence or drug ...
Continue reading "Thefts and Assaults Often Consequence of Underlying Drug and/or Alcohol Problem" »
Posted on Feb 15, 2011 By Attorney Shawn Curry
Recently, various news and media outlets have picked up on a story of a Cumberland County man who was recently sentenced for 5 DUI arrests in a span of three months. Of course, according to reports , ...
Continue reading "Put the Brakes on a Call for New DUI Legislation" »
Posted on Feb 8, 2011 By Attorney Shawn Curry
Anyone who has been involved in a marriage or romantic relationship has likely experienced the roller coaster ride that comes with it somewhere along the way - ups & downs, highs & lows, peaks ...
Continue reading "Domestic Disputes and Criminal Consequences" »
Posted on Feb 3, 2011 By Attorney Shawn Curry
If you are accused of Driving Under the Influence (DUI), a million questions may run through your mind. Am I going to jail? Am I going to lose my license? Our legislature has established mandatory ...
Continue reading "DUI Penalties - Speed Bump or Road Block?" »
Posted on Feb 2, 2011 By Attorney Shawn Curry
Whether you've been accused of DUI or Drug Possession in Pennsylvania, if your charges stem from a traffic stop, your defense may begin here. In assessing a case and potential defenses, the analysis ...
Continue reading "Traffic Stops - Your Legal Defense Can Start Here" »